Breadcrumb

Our gardens are open to limited numbers of people who can get to us safely and enjoy the fresh air. You must book a time slot in advance to visit Kew Gardens or Wakehurst.

As a charity, we need your help to continue our work more than ever. Donate today to help protect the future of Kew.

27 September 2019

Capturing autumn at Wakehurst

Wakehurst bursts into colour every autumn. For the budding photographer, here are some handy tips to capture its beauty.

By
Meryl Westlake

Catch that light

The late evening and early morning light is the best time for taking that perfect photo.

The ‘golden hour’ arrives when the sun starts to weaken and throws the landscape under a gorgeous glow.

Time your picture taking right, and you won’t have to adjust your settings too much as the light becomes naturally warm and soft. Play with your shutter speed; a longer one will let more light in. #nofilter required.

Wakehurst’s woodlands are scattered with seasonal vibrant reds, burnt oranges and sunset yellows. You might even find a seasonal pink and purple in there.

Keep an eye out for the contrasting colours, especially if it’s overcast. A bright red tree against a rainy backdrop can really make that photo pop.

Picture the textures

As leaves and conkers fall to the ground, you’ve got ample opportunity to bring some texture and autumn detail into your image.

You can focus on skeletons and veins of a dried out leaf.

Early morning dew can add that extra sparkle. A crispy petal or cracked twig turns an imperfection into beauty. Fungi can be overlooked but a macro lens will pick up the detail, adding a layer of life to the final picture.

Get the best composition

Use the Rule of Thirds to get the right balance and composition in your shot.

Imagine your image is broken down into two horizontal lines and two vertical ones, giving a grid effect. Use the lines and the points where they meet to line up the most important part of your image.

For a nature scene, you can line the horizon of a landscape along one of the horizontal lines, or maybe a leaf against one of the intersections and your image will instantly feel more balanced. For activities, you can add the action along any of those lines or meeting points.

Most cameras or smart phones will have a setting that shows the grid on your viewing screen.

Think about foreground

To add depth to a landscape photo and bring it to life, try experimenting with the foreground (the objects in the image that are closest to you). Having a strong foreground frames your scene and draws the eye into the image.

Play around with the position you're standing in. Try shooting from a position where leaves, branches or plants are at the front of your composition.